The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch

Planned Parenthood PinkOut Day Tucson

A hundred people gathered outside the Planned Parenthood office in Tucson as part of the national PinkOut Day Tuesday, Sept. 29. According to Jodi Liggett, Vice President for Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Arizona, this was one of four events in Tucson and 15 events around Arizona. Clinics offered free STD testing for anyone who came in.

Among the speakers at the event was Bryan Howard, President & CEO Planned Parenthood Arizona. He said, "The challenge for our critics is that their criticisms don't reflect what we do every day. This year we had 35,000 patients in Arizona. Those are 35,00 people who know why we exist." He continued, "Planned Parenthood isn't going anywhere. We will continue to be a resource for young people and women and families across Arizona."

City Council member Regina Romero spoke as well. She talked about the importance of family planning in her own life and said, "We must be unapologetic about the right of every woman to decide whether or not to have a family and to plan their own family. Women must have a choice."